In the Press: S’pore dialogues ‘have influenced policymaking’

In the Press: S’pore dialogues ‘have influenced policymaking’
From The Straits Times 24 Mar 2013-
Rachel Chang.
To those who dismiss the Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) exercise as a wayang, a talkshop or a sideshow, the minister guiding it, Mr Heng Swee Keat, points to the recently passed Budget as evidence that it is already having an impact on policymaking.

Carrot Olympics, Singapore re-writes record for most money paid per medal.

Singapore tops world in Olympic gold medal cash payout
By Elizabeth Soh | Fit To Post Sports – Sun, Aug 5, 2012 7:46 PM SGT
Feng's bronze medal will earn her S$250,000 under the MAP scheme. (Reuters photo)
If there's a medal for the highest cash payout for winning an Olympic gold, Singapore would top the charts.
According to a story by broadcaster CNBC, it said Italy was the most generous with a S$225,000 (USD 182,400) payout for gold, followed by Russia with S$167,000.
France rounded up the top 3 with an S$80,000 payout.
In contrast, US gold medal winners only pocket $31,000 for gold, S$18,000 for silver and S$12,000 for bronze.

Too small for unhappy slapping

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
May 14, 2011
Too small for unhappy slapping
SINGAPORE is where it is today not because of a miracle. It took decades of dedicated planning and work.
Many nations with poor leadership have fared badly in the last 10 years. A lack of confidence in the government, and stock prices fall, currency value drops, foreign investors pull out and so on.

Attributes of a First World Parliament

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 25, 2011
Attributes of a First World Parliament
PEOPLE'S Action Party MP Indranee Rajah said the Workers' Party (WP) is refusing to explain what it really means by "First World Parliament", so as not to alarm voters ("The inconvenient truth about WP's campaign slogan"; last Saturday).

First World Parliament: Let voters decide

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 25, 2011
First World Parliament: Let voters decide
THE Workers' Party (WP) does not see the need to model its 'First World Parliament' theme after any country ('The inconvenient truth about WP's campaign slogan' by People's Action Party MP Indranee Rajah; last Saturday).

He understands where WP is coming from

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 27, 2011
He understands where WP is coming from
AS A first-time voter, I view the ongoing scrutiny and debate over the Workers' Party's campaign slogan, Towards a First World Parliament, as bordering on the irrelevant and unproductive.
If we were to extend this same standard of scrutiny to the People's Action Party's campaign slogan, Securing Our Future Together, then one could question, among other things, whether the PAP will change its policy of differentiating between citizens living in PAP-held and opposition-held wards in terms of upgrading policies and so on, in the future.

First World Parliament needs competition

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 25, 2011
First World Parliament needs competition
I REFER to People's Action Party MP Indranee Rajah's letters ("WP's fictional First World Parliament"; last Tuesday, and "The inconvenient truth about WP's campaign slogan"; last Saturday).
They represent an unproductive picking of words and a distraction from the real issue confronting us, which is to have competition in Parliament.

The inconvenient truth about WP's campaign slogan

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 23, 2011
The inconvenient truth about WP's campaign slogan
MR GERALD Giam's response ('If a First World govt is possible, so too a First World Parliament'; Thursday) shows how the Workers' Party has been twisting every way possible to explain away its campaign theme, 'First World Parliament', and yet not alarm voters on what it really means.

What makes a valid opposition

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 21, 2011
What makes a valid opposition
I REFER to Ms Indranee Rajah's letter, ('WP's fictional First World Parliament'; Tuesday).
Effective governance should not be measured by the speed of passing constitutional amendments, but by the quality of such amendments. If the opposition has a valid concern to oppose the passing of any constitutional amendment, it should be heard and not be labelled troublemaker.

Let's have a First World political debate

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 21, 2011
Let's have a First World political debate
I REFER to Ms Indranee Rajah's response to the Workers' Party (WP) vision of a First World Parliament ('WP's fictional First World Parliament'; Tuesday).

His view of a First World Parliament

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 21, 2011
His view of a First World Parliament
MS INDRANEE Rajah named countries with a multi-party legislature stuck in gridlock and engaged in political theatre while governance, the economy and people suffer, and policies which would benefit the people cannot get passed, ('WP's fictional First World Parliament'; Tuesday).

If a First World govt is possible, so too a First World Parliament

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 21, 2011
If a First World govt is possible, so too a First World Parliament
THE Workers' Party (WP) does not share Ms Indranee Rajah's cynicism of democratic politics ('WP's fictional First World Parliament'; Tuesday).
The fact that the WP's vision of a First World Parliament does not model itself after any particular developed country should not be surprising to Ms Indranee.

Three problems with single-party democracy

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 21, 2011
Three problems with single-party democracy
MS INDRANEE Rajah contends that a multi-party Parliament will lead to inefficient governance, while one dominated by a single party is able to pass beneficial policies without hindrance, and hence, govern more effectively ('WP's fictional First World Parliament'; Tuesday).

NCMP scheme has no precedent either

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 21, 2011
NCMP scheme has no precedent either
I READ with interest Ms Indranee Rajah's response ('WP's fictional First World Parliament'; Tuesday) to the Workers' Party's (WP) vision of a First World Parliament which had no reference to any particular developed country.

WP's fictional First World Parliament

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 19, 2011
WP's fictional First World Parliament
MS SYLVIA Lim's attempt to explain what the Workers' Party is saying exposes the inconsistencies in the WP's position ('What First World Parliament means: Sylvia'; April 15).
Ms Lim, astonishingly, says that WP's vision of a First World Parliament has no reference to any particular developed country! It is obvious why she refuses to name any specific country - there is no successful model that she can point to.

What First World Parliament means: Sylvia

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 15, 2011
What First World Parliament means: Sylvia
IN RESPONDING to the Workers' Party's (WP) campaign slogan 'Vote Workers' Party - Towards A First World Parliament', Mr Eugene Tan has misunderstood the term 'First World' used in the slogan ('UK, US? Give him a S'pore MP any day'; Wednesday).
It was made clear at the launch of the slogan that WP is not taking any particular developed country as a model.

UK, US? Give him a S'pore MP any day

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 13, 2011
UK, US? Give him a S'pore MP any day
THE definition of a First World Parliament seems to refer to numbers rather than quality ('WP's goal: A First World Parliament'; Sunday).
In the United States, a deadlock last week nearly shut down the government. American institutions of democracy and a First World Parliament did not stop the US or Britain from fighting a disastrous war in Iraq. The recent British general election has perhaps put the country on the road to permanent minority governments, like those in continental Europe.

WP's goal: A First World Parliament

Published on Apr 10, 2011
WP's goal: A First World Parliament
By Chong Zi Liang
THE Workers' Party (WP) on Saturday unveiled its manifesto and campaign slogan at its party headquarters along Syed Alwi Road.
Titled Towards A First World Parliament, the manifesto contains 15 points on a diverse range of national issues like economic growth, the electoral process, public housing and the judiciary.